George skinner



G. SKINNE SAIL.

atented Mar. 24, 1891.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SKINNER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,004, dated March 24, 1891. Application filed April 16, 1890. Serial No. 348,273. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Form and Rig of Sails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin reefing fore-and-aft sails, and has for its object to provide a novel sail that may be readily reefed without lowering the entire sail, whereby the reefing may be more quickly accomplished and by fewer men than could be done with the ordinary fore-and-aft sail'now in common use.

To these ends my invention consists in a fore-and-aft sail formed of two separate and independent triangular sections, one section extending from the head of the mast out to the end of the boom and along the boom and the other section extending from the head of the mast to the end of the boom and thence to the end of the gaff, the sections being provided with independent halyards and adapted to operate substantially in the manner hereinafter described, and afterward specifically pointed out in the claim, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the after part of a sloop or schooner, showing my improved sail set. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the sail reefed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the mast and gafi; Fig. 4, ahorizontal section of the mast and the rails Fig. 5, a partial rear elevation of the mast and rails, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 detail views of some of the parts.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates the after part of a schooner or sloop; B, the main-mast; G, the boom, and D the gaff, all being of the usual construction.

E indicates one portion or section of my improved sail, and consists of a triangular section of canvas extending, when set, from near the top of the mast to the foot thereof and outwardly to the end of the boom. It is secured to the boom in the usual manner;

but instead of being confined to the mast by sail hoops or grommets it is provided along its forward edge with travelers e, (shown in detail in Fig. 7,) which slide vertically upon a T -shaped rail e, secured to the after part of the mast, as will more fully hereinafter be described. The upper portion or head of this section of the sail, instead of being secured to the gaff, as is usual, is secured to a block, through which is passdthe halyard e, by means of which the sail is hoisted or set. F indicates the other section of the sail, and consists of a triangular section of canvas, secured in the usual manner to the gaff D, its apex being secured to the end of the boom in the usual manner. The gaff D is hoisted by means of throat-halyards Gr audpeak-halyards H, as usual in fore-and-aft sails. From the leach of the sail-section F extend inwardly brails f, which pass down to and around pulleys on the boom, the ends being fastened to cleats on the after part of the boom in convenient reach. Upon the after part of the mast is secured, by means of bands e two or more T-shaped rails 6' e upon one of which, as e, slide the travelers e, secured to the forward edge of the sail-section E, and upon the other rail 6 slides the hinged traveler I, which is secured to the inner end of the gaff. By having the two sailsections thus travel on different rails the two sections can be hoisted and lowered independently of each other. I have shown three rails e c a the purpose of the third rail being merely to have an extra rail in case of the breakage of one of the rails, and it will be apparent that two rails will suffice.

In setting sail the section E will be first hoisted by means of the halyards c and then the section F will be hoisted by means of the peak and throat halyards. WVhen it becomes necessary to reef the sail, instead of lowering the entire sail and confining its lower portion to the boom by reefing'points, as is usually the practice, it is only necessary to unfasten the halyards secured to the gaff, and by pulling upon the brails f the entire sail-section]? is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, and, if desired,

may be detached and stowed away.

\Vhat I claim isbe hoisted and lowered independenilyof each In combination with the sail-section E, proother, substantially as described, and for the Vided with the travelers e, sliding upon the purpose specified.

rail e, the sail-section F, secured to the gaff GEORGE SKINNEBH 5 D, and the hinged traveler I, secured to the Witnesses:

gaff and sliding upon the rail e said sections JOHN R. FAIRBAIRN,

E 1 having separate halyards and adapted to JAMES A. RICE. 

